Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday commenced trial of the former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd), his son, Abdullajeez Nyako and seven others standing trial over their alleged involvement in a N40 billion fraud while he was governor of the state.
When the matter came up yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) led the prosecution witnesses in evidence.
The witness, Ogwu Raymond, who is a compliance officer with the Zenith Bank Plc identified bank document relating to the defendants.
The document, which include, bank accounts, certificate of identification and statement of account were tendered as exhibits by the prosecution counsel through the witness.
Nyako, Abdulaziz, Zulkifikk Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal limited, Sebore Farms and Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited were arraigned on a 37-count charge.
The defendants, who were first arraigned before late Justice Evoh Chukwu before his demise pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
After the not guilty plea, Justice Abang ordered that the defendants should continue to enjoy the conditions of the earlier bail granted by late justice Chukwu, adding that the court cannot vary the conditions of the bail earlier granted to the defendants.
Part of the charges reads: “That you Murtala, Abdulaziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Limited Pagoda Fortunes Limited and Tower Assets Management Limited on or about 9th March, 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did convert the sum of N35 million to develop hill view estate, Mpape, Abuja, which sum was derived from the theft of the fund of Adamawa State government, routed through Amdak Investment Limited, Towers assets management Limited and Blue Opal Limited accounts respectively with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said sum and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 15(1) (a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act,2011”.
Justice Abang adjourned the matter till today for the cross examination of the prosecution witness by the defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
and then